Xitong's gaze swept over the tiny puppy curled up in the basket. Perhaps because it had just been treated with medicine, the puppy was well-behaved for now, only letting out a soft whimper every now and then.
Earlier on the mountain, Xitong had examined the puppy. It was completely ordinary, without any powerful bloodline. Yet, such a common little dog had appeared on Tianyu Mountain without any warning, which made it highly suspicious.
The child looked quite fond of it, and this fondness even carried a hint of a special connection.
Perhaps because she had Xitong's assurance, Shuqi was now bustling all over the courtyard, seemingly making a bed for the puppy. She asked, "What do you plan to do with this dog?" Walking straight up to Shuqi, she watched the child search for something in the sewing basket.
Without even raising her head, Shuqi said, "I want to keep it."
Xitong was not particularly surprised. Children having compassion for small animals was the most natural thing in the world. But remembering that she was bound to the child, she had to remind her, "Aren't you planning to go to the Cultivation World? This is just a very ordinary dog. In the Cultivation World, there are plenty of Spirit Beasts far superior to it."
Hearing this, Shuqi thought about it seriously and said, "This doesn't have much to do with whether I can go to the Cultivation World or not. The moment I saw it, my heart felt joy. It reminds me of myself. You should know that I was the one Granny picked up from Tianyu Mountain. Even though Granny is no longer by my side, I want to keep it with me. Not just raising it here in the mortal realm—to be precise, I will keep it with me always. If I really can go to the Cultivation World as you said, I will take it with me there, too."
Seeming to recall something, the corners of Shuqi's lips curled up unconsciously, and her gaze became much firmer. "Besides, who can say for sure that it won't find its own destiny once it reaches the Cultivation World? Don't storybooks often feature ordinary little animals encountering fortuitous encounters to achieve extraordinary things? I believe it can do it too."
Xitong: "..." Since you've put it that way, what else can I say? "Fine then. As long as you've thought it through, we'll keep it." With that, she patted the child. Seeing Shuqi look up at her, she suddenly flashed a mischievous smile. "So I've decided, starting tomorrow, your tasks are doubled."
Shuqi: "...... No, you can't do that. Do you know how exhausting that is for me? Do you still remember that I'm only six years old?"
Xitong smiled. "I don't. Besides, I don't think one's capability has any inevitable connection to their age."
"But..." Shuqi was about to argue further, but her eyes swept over Xitong's suddenly cold and stern face. Although she still couldn't see it clearly, it still sent a chill down her spine.
Xitong said, "That's final. One more 'but,' and see if I don't take this little puppy away."
Ugh, Shuqi was completely silenced. Her life was so hard, truly.
Seeing that the child had stopped yapping, and noticing that the little face had instantly slumped, Xitong realized she might have spoken too harshly. She gave a light cough. "Here, take this. Read it first, and stop letting your mind wander." With that, she tossed a book over to Shuqi. After a moment of thought, she took a bottle of pills from her mustard pouch and threw it to the little girl.
Shuqi barely managed to catch the items. She glanced at the book; the cover was a bit worn, with neat calligraphy on it reading *This and That About Cultivation Basics*. Opening the stopper of the other bottle, Xiao Shuer saw a pill the size of a soybean—round and plump, pale green, and upon closer inspection, shimmering with a faint golden light. It didn't look like an ordinary mortal object at all.
"This is a supreme-grade Marrow Cleansing Pill. It cleanses the meridians and marrow. Today—well, find a time to take it yourself; it will benefit your future. As for taking a master and cultivating immortality, we'll discuss that after you've read this book. I'm going to rest first." With that, she yawned and vanished.
"......"